Remotely controlled toy car



March 22, 1966 R. L. BRANSTNER 3,241,263

REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR Filed April 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI AINVENTOR. RICHARD L. BRANSTNER iiisia March 1966 R. L. BRANSTNERREMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1963 FIG. 4

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INVENTOR. RICHARD L. BRANSTNER A TOR March 22, 1966 R. BRANSTNERREMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 25, 1963INVENTOR. RICHARD L. BRANSTNER United States Patent 3,241,263 REMOTELYCONTROLLED TOY CAR Richard L. Branstner, Birmingham, Mich, assignor toAMT Corporation, Troy, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 25,1963, Ser. No. 275,564

12 Claims. (Cl. 46244) The present invention pertains to the art ofremotely controlled toys and more particularly to a remotely controlledtoy car adapted to travel along a trackway.

In copending application, Serial No. 183,511, filed March 29, 1962, andassigned to the assignee of this application, there is described animproved remotely controlled toy car which is adapted to travel along atrackway and includes a means for allowing transverse steeringof the carwith respect to the trackway.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use on such atransversely steerable, remotely controlled toy car and it will bediscussed with particular reference thereto; however, it is to beappreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be usedwith other types of remotely controlled either steerable or nonsteerabletoy cars.

In the above-mentioned copending application, the improved remotelycontrolled toy car is connected to a dolly riding within a submergedtrackway of a base member having a relatively fiat upper surface. Theconnection means between the car and the dolly includes a swing ablelink member that is pivotally connected about a vertical axis onto boththe car and the dolly so that the car can be steered transversely of thetrackway by swinging the link member. A difiiculty of this arrangementis that the plane of the trackway and the surface on which the caroperates had to be at all times generally flat and parallel. Thislimited the realism of operation.

The present invention pertains to an improvement of the remotelycontrolled toy car described in the abovementioned copending applicationwhich improvement not only allows transverse steering of the car withrespect to the trackway, but also, allows vertical or rocking movementof the car with respect to the trackway. In this manner, the remotelycontrolled toy car has more possible directions of movement and itsoperation is more complex and interesting.

In accordance with the present invention there is providedfirst meansfor connecting the link member onto the dolly and second means forconnecting the link member onto the car wherein each of the first andsecond means allows controlled pivotal movement of the link member atleast about a horizontal axis. In this manner, the rigid link memberallows the car to move vertically upward with respect to the dolly and,thus, with respect to the submerged trackway.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided means for allowing vertical movement of the car with respect tothe base member and upwardly protruding portions on the base member andadjacent the trackway for shifting the car vertically upwardly as thecar passes thereover.

The primary object of the present invention is the pro vision of aremotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to travel along atrackway capable of movement closely simulating the movement of a realautomobile.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a remotelycontrolled toy car of the type adapted to travel along a trackway whichcar can be steered transversely with respect to the trackway and whichcar can simultaneously move upwardly with respect to the trackway.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a remotelycontrolled toy car which car can be steered transversely to a limitedextent and which car can also move vertically upwardly to a limitedextent so that the car can move in a combination of these two directionsbut only within certain predetermined limits.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of aremotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to travel along atrackway which car can universally shift with respect to the trackway inboth a vertical and a transverse direction within certain predeterminedlimits.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a basemember having a relatively fiat upper surface and adapted to receive atrackway which guides a remotely controlled toy car traveling along thetrackway wherein the base member has upwardly protruding portions overwhich the car can travel.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of abase member of the type mentioned above wherein the car traveling on theupper surfaceof the base member is adapted to be steered transverselywith respect to the trackway so that the car may be selectively drivenover the protruding portions or around these portions as desired.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description used to illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention as read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevational view showing, somewhatschematically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view illustrating thepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view illustrating, somewhat schematically, thepreferred embodiment of the present invention:

FIGURE 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken generally along line5-5 of FIGURE 4 and showing the remotely controlled car in position;

FIGURE 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view similar to the view inFIGURE 5 showing the remotelycontrolled car in the position indicated by.line 6-6 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial, cross-sectional view similar to the view inFIGURE 5 showing the remotely controlled car in the position indicatedby line 77 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purposeof illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only,and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows a remotelycontrolled toy car A adapted to ride along the upper surface of anappropriate base member B, which base member is preferably constructedof a plastic material. On base member B there is provided a trackway Chaving an upwardly opened slot 10 and adapted to receive anappropriately constructed dolly D which has a post 12 extending upwardlythrough slot 10. A means E is provided for interconnecting car A anddolly D and the improved construotion of this means E forms a primaryaspect of the present invention.

As so far described, the operation of the remotely controllled toy car Adoes not differ substantially from the remotely controlled toy car shownin the copendin-g application 183,511, filed March 29, .1962. Car A isdriven by an appropriate electrical means which receives energy fromrails located within the submerged trackway C. The details of theelectrical connections between the rails and the car through the dolly Dare not shown because these features of remotely controlled toy car arenot directly involved in the present invention. As the plan view takengenerally along car moves along the upper surface of base member B,dolly D is pulled along by the connecting means E which as disclosed inthe above-mentioned copending application is a swingable link pivoted atthe car and at the dolly about a vertical axis. By this swingablefeature of means E, the car can be steered transversely with respect tothe traokway by an internally mounted steering actuator. The toy carshown in the above-mentioned copending application has no provisions forallowing controlled movement of the car vertically upward with respectto the base member B.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided animprovement in a remotely controlled toy car of the type adapted to pulla dolly along a trackway which improvement includes, basically, a rigidlink member, first means for connecting the link member onto the dolly Dand second means for connecting the link member onto car A whereby thefirst and second means allow pivotal movement of the link member aboutgenerally horizontal axes. This pivotal movement about horizontal axesallows vertical movement of the car with respect to the base member B.Although a variety of structural embodiments could be incorporated toaccomplish the present invention, in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention the connecting means E comprises a rigidlink member 20 which is pivotally secured onto dolly D by a first means22 comprising oppositely extending pins or trunnions 24, 26 protrudingoutwardly from post cap 28 and defining a pivotal axis x. As is bestshown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the rigid link member 20 includes arms 30, 32and a neck 34 which are so joined to form link member 20 int-o awishbone configuration.

T-he rigid link member 20, opposite the first pivot means 22, isprovided with a second pivot means it), which, in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a ball 42appropriately joined onto the end of neck 34 and extending outwardlytherefrom which ball is received within a socket 44 connected onto achassis 46 of car A by means of a mounting plate 48 and appropriatelypositioned screws 50. The dimensions of the ball 42 and socket 44 aresuch that the ball is freely swiveled within the socket. A lubricant maybe used between the ball and socket to lubricate the movement of theball.

As so far described, the ball 42 would have universal movement withinsocket 44; however, for reasons to be hereinafter described in detail,the preferred embodiment of the invention includes appropriate means forlimiting the swivel movement of ball 42. Although a variety ofstructural embodiments could be incorporated for this purpose, inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention as is bestshown in FIGURES -2 and 3, the wishbone or rigid link 20 is providedwith a downwardly extending stop lug 54 adapted to coact with recess 56and inclined Walls 58, 60 on the mounting plate 48.

In operation of the invention as so far described, the rigid link member20 connects dolly D and car A. At the upper end of post 12, the link 20may pivot around a vertical axis by rotating post cap 28 on the upperend of post 12 and, simultaneously, the rigid link 20 may vpivot'about asubstantially horizontal axis x so that the link member can move inangular direction upwardly with respect to the base member B.Accordingly, at the connection between the dolly D and the rigid linkmember 20, the two members can pivot with respect to each other around avertical axis and a "horizontal axis which axes are substantiallyperpendicular to each other.

Another important aspect of the present invention as so far explained isthe provision of the ball and socket 42, 44 which are the basicoperating elements of the second pivotal means 40 which ball and socketallows both upw r movem nt of chassis 46 with respect to the base memberB and transverse movement of the chassis 46 with respect to base memberB as is shown in the phantom lines of FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3respectively. It is also appreciated, that provision of a ball andsocket connection at means 46 on one end of the rigid link 20, allowsthe chassis 46 pivotal movement about an axis longitudinal of thetrackway so that the car may assume various angular positions withrespect to the base memher.

In consideration of the function of stop lug 54, it is noted that thelug is adapted to coact with recess 56 to limit the amount of upwardpivotal movement which the chassis can have with respect to base memberB. In the phantom lines of FIGURE 2, the chassis 46 is moved upwardlyuntil the lug 54 contacts the recess 56; at which position of lug 54,the chassis cannot move further upwardly with respect to base member B.The primary object for limiting the upward movement of car A is toprevent the rigid link member 20 from pivoting upwardly over the centerline of post 12 which could cause the car to stilt in an upward positionwith the front end of the car raised off the base member B. It isappreciated, that lug 54 may be eliminated without departing from theintended spirit and scope of the present invention; however, it is alsorealized that a means for limiting the amount of upward pivotal movementof the link 20 is very advantageous in practice.

As is illustrated in FIGURE 3, lug 54 limits the amount of pivotalmovement of ball 42 around a vertical axis through the ball. As ball 42pivots about a vertical axis in either direction, lug 54. contacts oneside of recess 56 and, thus, limits the pivotal movement. In accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the invention, the amount of pivotalmovement of ball 42 about a vertical axis is limited so that the dolly Dalways remains longitudinally behind the ball 42. Accordingly, when thecar A is reversed, the dolly D cannot be forced into a position forwardof ball 42 in which position some difficulty could occur as the car isagain shifted into forward drive.

In essence, lug 54 prevents link 20 from shifting 90 or more in anupward direction and, also, limits the transverse swinging movement oflink 20 to less than 90 in either the right or the left transversedirection. Of course, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, themovement of link member 20 is more restricted than is actually necessaryso that accurate control is maintained on the movement of the car A onthe base member B. Control of the movement of car A with respect to basemember B is accomplished by providing a rigid link connecting the dollyand car, which link is then provided with controlled pivotal connectionsthat allow only the desired pivotal movement.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is illustrated a base member B having atrackway C with a slot 10 therein extending along a predetermined pathat the upper relatively flat surface of the base member B. This basemember is constructed in accordance with another aspect of the presentinvention, which is made possible by the construction of theinterconnecting means E in accordance with the present invention asdescribed above. Basically, base member B is provided with a pluralityof randomly arranged upwardly projecting or protruding portions whichare positioned adjacent slot 10 so that the car A may be steered overthese portions. In accordance with this aspect of the present invention,it is proposed to provide base member B with various configurations ofupwardly protruding portions.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, upwardlyprotruding portions 70, 72 are formed into inclined blocks secured tothe upper surface of base member B with one block on each s de of slot10. As the car A travels along slot 10, the wheels of the car ride overblocks 70, 72 as is shown in FIGURE 5 which causes the rigid link member20 to pivot upwardly with respect to the first pivot means 22 anddownwardly with respect to the second pivot means 40. Consequently, thecar A moves vertically upwardly with respect to base member B as the cartravels over the inclined block 70, 72.

In accordance with another aspect of the illustrated embodiment of thepresent invention, a further upwardly protruding portion 74 is providedon base member B adjacent slot which protruding portion takes the formof a ramp having inclined entrant and exit ends. By appropriate steeringof the car A, it is possible to move the car transversely with respectto the slot 10 so that one wheel of the car rides over ramp 74. This isshown in FIGURE 7 wherein it is noted that the rigid link allows bothvertically upward movement of car A with respect to base member B and,also, angular displacement of the car about a longitudinal axis. Thiscontrolled, compound movement is accomplished by providing the ball andsocket at connection means 40.

Further, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the presentinvention, the base member B is provided with another upwardlyprotruding portion 76 taking the form of a bank along one turn of theslot 10. As the car travels along slot 10 adjacent the bank 76, onewheel of the car will ride upwardly onto the bank causing the car totilt with respect to the base member and, simultaneously, move upwardlywith respect to the base member. This controlled, compound movement ofcar A is allowed by constructing means E in accordance with the presentinvention. Movement of the car A along bank 76 is shown in FIGURE 6wherein it is also noted that the car is shifted transversely withrespect to the dolly D. This figure illustrates the infinitely variableshifting of car A with respect to base member B which is allowed andcontrolled by constructing the interconnecting means E in accordancewith the present invention.

It is appreciated that multifarious protruding portions could beprovided on the upper surface of base member B and that these portionscould be so arranged to construct a driving course for car A having avariety of patterns.

The present invention has been described in connection with certainstructural embodiments which embodiments may be modified withoutdeparting from the intended spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In the combination of a remotely controlled toy car, a trackwayextending in a predetermined path, a dolly adapted to move along saidtrackway and means interconnecting said dolly and said car, theimprovement comprising: said means including a rigid link member, firstmeans for connecting said link member onto said dolly and second meansfor connecting said link member onto said car, said first means and saidsecond means a1- lowing controlled pivotal movement of said rigid linkmember about spaced horizontal axes.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means andsaid second means also allow pivotal move ment around spaced generallyparallel vertical axes.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first meanscomprises a pivot pin mounted horizontally on said dolly and a means formounting said rigid link member onto said pin.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 3 including a means for mountingsaid pivot pin to rotate about a vertical axis.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said second meanscomprises a means for allowing swivel movement between said car and saidrigid link member.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein said swivel meansincludes a socket secured onto said car and a ball secured onto saidrigid link member.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 6 including a stop means forlimiting the swivel movement of said ball with respect to said socket.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1 including stop means forlimiting the amount of angular movement of said rigid link member aboutsaid horizontal axes.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein said stop meanscomprises an abutment on said rigid link member and an abutment on saidcar whereby said abutments coact to limit the angular movement of saidlink member with respect to the horizontal axes.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein said stop meansincludes a lug on said rigid link member and a recess on said car andlarger than said lug, said lug adapted to extend into said recess tolimit the angular movement of said rigid link member about saidhorizontal axes.

l1. In the combination of a remotely controlled toy car, a trackwayextending in a predetermined path, a dolly adapted to move along saidtrackway and means interconnecting said dolly and said car forpermitting transverse movement of said car with respect to said dolly,the improvement comprising: said means including a rigid link member, acap rotatable about a vertical axis and secured onto said dolly, a ballon a first end of said rigid link member, a socket on said car andadapted to swivelly receive said ball, a pivot pin mounted onto said capto define a horizontal axis, means for pivotally connecting the secondend of said rigid link member onto said pivot pin so that said linkmember pivots around said horizontal axis, and means on said rigid linkmember for limiting the swivel movement of said ball in said socket.

12. In the combination of a remotely controlled toy car, a base memberhaving a relatively flat upper surface for drivingly receiving said car,a trackway in said base member and extending in a predetermined path,means for driving said car on said upper surface of said base member andalong said trackway, and means for steering said car with respect tosaid trackway, the improvement comprising: means for allowing verticalmovement of all portions of said car with respect to said base memberand an upwardly protruding portion on said base memher and adjacent saidtrackway for shifting said car vertically upwardly as said car passesthereover, said upwardly protruding portion spaced transversely fromsaid trackway a distance greater than one half of the width of said car.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,765 3/495 3Small 46240 X 2,791,065 5/ 1957 Stanetzki 46240 2,812,617 11/1957Lon-garzo 46- 243 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

1. IN THE COMBINATION OF A REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY EAR, A TRACKWAYEXTENDING IN A PREDETERMINED PATH, A DOLLY ADAPTED TO MOVE ALONG SAIDTRACKWAY AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID DOLLY AND SAID CAR, THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID MEANS INCLUDING A RIGID LINK MEMBER, FIRSTMEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID LINK MEMBER ONTO SAID DOLLY AND SECOND MEANSFOR CONNECTING SAID LINK MEMBER